Assessment of Antioxidant Effects of Aqueous, Ethanolic and Methanolic Extracts of Morus mesozygia Linn. Stapf., Leaves in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Aim: The aim of this study was therefore to assess the antioxidant effects of aqueous, ethanolic and methanolic extracts of Morus mesozygia Linn. Stapf., Leaves in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats.

Study Design: The study is an experimental case-controlled study.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out at the Biochemistry Research Laboratory, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, between June 2018-April 2019.

Methodology: A total of 65 male albino rats that weighed between 150g to 200g were used for this research study. Three different extracted solvents; aqueous, ethanolic and methanolic leaves extracts were administered to different groups of the rats. The male albino rats for this study were induced with a single dose of 40mg/kg b.wt, intraperitoneally of streptozotocin in 0.1M of citrate buffer, pH 4.5. The diabetic male rats were those whose fasting blood glucose (FBG) were from 250 mg/dl or 13 mmol/L and above.

Results: The results showed that there were significant increases in the levels of superoxide dismutase(SOD,411.8±1.49) ng/ml, total antioxidant status (TAS,75.25±0.42) mU/ml, total oxidant status (TOS,353.51± 6.07) mU/ml activity, an oxidative stress index of 4.69±0.05 and a reduced concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA of 19.0± 1.49 mmol/L) when rats were treated with 400mg/kg of aqueous leaves of Morus mesozygia Linn. S., when compared with those of rats treated with 200mg/kg of aqueous leaf extracts of MMLS. Other methods of extractions (methanolic and ethanolic), also improved the antioxidant statuses of the diabetes induced and treated rats.

Conclusion: Methanolic, ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Morus mesozygia Linn. S ameliorated oxidative stress, in Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, with the methanolic extract showing the most potent effect.